Push-button switch.



UNITED STATE-s Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER A. CHURCH, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,541, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed J une I7, 1903.

To @ZZ whom, it may ccncerzw Y and useful Improvements in Push Button z Switches, of which the following is a specilication.

The invention relates to switches for controlling' electric circuits, and more particularly to a switch device known in the art as a push-button switch-that is, a switch which may be used for making and breaking the connections of a circuit of electricity by pressing upon one of two buttons projecting from the face-plate of the switch.

The object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple device having the fewest possible number of parts and these arranged to give positive action, at the Sametime providing a quick make and break between the connections as the switch'is opened and closed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of a switch embodying the invention with the casing or base cut in section. Fig. 2 is a detail view from the right of Fig. 1 with'the bottom of the casing cut Y away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view` of one of the stationary contact members. Fig. 4 is a Sectional view on the line a" of l, with the switch-throwing mechanism adjusted at the highest point of the cam. l l

In the accompanying drawings the letter a; denotes a base or receptacle adapted to receive the several parts of the mechanism comprising the switch and operating partsA and the electrical connections for said parts. This base or receptacle is formed of proper insulating material and is arranged to completely inclose all parts and connections when itis inserted in a wall. The outer face of the re ceptacle is covered by a face-plate I; of the switch, which has arranged in it openings for the push-buttons c c. Secured to the faceplate is a support CZ, provided at one end with a cam-surface c and a recess e', within which is arranged and adapted to slide a switch-bar Serial No. 161,838. (No model.)

f.' There are preferably two of these camsurfaces arranged on opposite sides of the base or support.

Pivotally mounted in the frame or support d, as at g, 'is a switch-lever la, which is preferably of T form and provided at each end of the T with pivotal connections k if, through which it is connected with the push-buttons c c. AThe opposite end of the switch-lever h is slotted to receive a short shaft c', bearing surface e for the purpose of givingv a quick movement to the switch-bar f, as hereinafter described. This short shaft c' is normally held at the bottom of the recess Z, formed in the end of the lever h, by springs fm, which are connected at their opposite ends to the support d. The switch-bar fis slotted, and the lever it projects through this slot and is provided withY angularly-disposed surfaces In n', which engage Athe ends of the slot and reciprocate the switch-bar.

As shown herein, the support has ledges V0, formingca table upon which the switch-bar slides, and is heldin proper position as illustrated in Fig. l and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This Vswitch-baris provided at either end with contact-blades p p', secured to but insulated from the bar. At either end of the receptacle are arranged stationary contacts fr 1", insulated fromY each other. by the base and provided at their vends adjacent to the face-plate with means for attaching the line-wires. In the form of the device shown herein there are four of these stationary contacts, the pair at each end ofthe receptacle forming the terminals of a separate circuit. Obviously the stationary contacts might be cross-connected in'such manner as to form a three-Way switch, or the same switch mechanism might be ap- `rolls is', which cooperate with the camplied to a double-pole switch by simply changcam e.

g until the rolls 7c c reach the point of the As soon as the rolls pass the high point of the cam the springs m react, pulling downward upon the short shaft and causing the lever L to be shot forward very rapidly. As the lever makes its quick movement while the rolls are descending the face of the cam it engages the end of the slot in the switch and withdraws the contact-blade p from the cooperating stationary contacts r 1^, breaking the circuit. At the same time the contact p is caused to engage with the stationary contacts adjacent to it.

From the above operation it will be seen that there is a loose connection between the actuating-buttons c c and the switch-bar, and said bar is caused to shoot backward and forward between the contacts to make and break the circuit by an extremely quick movement caused by the reactive effect of the spring m, coperating with the rolls and cam.

Obviously the details of the several parts might be changed without altering in any way the scope or intent of the invention, and

numerous changes might be made with reference to the location of contact members, &c. to provide a single-pole,double-pole, or threeway switch.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a base or support, a cam immovable with respect thereto, a reciprocating switch-bar operatively mounted in the support, a lever for actuating said switch-bar, means for actuating the lever, and

bar, a cam mounted upon the support, pushbuttons for imparting an initial movement to the lever to move it in opposite directions, and means vborne by the lever for causinga sudden secondary movement of the lever and moving the switch-bar.

4:. In combination with a base or support, a switch-lever pivoted thereto and provided witha recess, a member transversely arranged to said lever and borne in the recess, springs for holding said member in the recess, a stationary cam operatively arranged with relation to the lever and adapted to control the movement of the transverse member in its recess, and a reciprocating switch-bar adapted to be moved by said lever. y

5. In combination with a base or support, a stationary cam mounted upon the support, a reciprocating switch-bar adapted to slide in said support, a tilting lever pivotally supported on said support, push-buttons for moving said lever, and a roll, spring-retained in said lever and cooperating with the cam to cause a rapid movement of the switch-bar.

6. In combination with a base or support, a reciprocating switch-bar adapted to slide therein and provided with a recess, an actuating-lever for said switch-bar and means for imparting movement thereto, said lever projecting through the recess of the switch-bar, a stationary cam operatively mounted with respect to said lever and switch-bar, and aspringretained roll mounted inA the lever and coperating with the cam and adapted to impart a rapid movementto said lever and switch-bar.

7. In combination with a base or support, a lever pivoted thereto, push-buttons and connections between said buttons and the lever for tilting the latter, a reciprocatingswitchbar embracing the lever, a cam-surface arranged on opposite sides of the lever, rolls mounted to move with the lever and move over the face of the cams, and springs intermediate the rolls and support for controlling the movement of the lever and switch-bar embraced thereby dnring the movement of the rolls over the face of the cams.

8. In combination with a base or support comprising two side members, a reciprocating switch-bar mounted in said support, cams extending from each of said side members, a pivoted switch-lever having a plurality of arms, pushbuttons operatively connected with two of the arms of the switch-lever, a pair of rolls carried by the other arm of said lever and arranged to contact with the cams, and means for holding the rolls in contact with the cams and permitting a movement of the rolls independent of the swinging movementof the switch-lever, and contacts coperating with the reciprocating switch-bar;

9. In combination with a base or support including two side parts, opposing recesses formed in said side parts, a reciprocating switch-bar arranged to slide in said recesses and having an open ing therethrough, a pivoted switch-bar arranged between the two side parts of the support and extending through the opening of the switch-bar, a slot formed in the end of said switch-bar, stationary cams a pair of rolls supported in said slot and cooperating With the cams, springs for retaining the rolls in engagement with the cams, and push-buttons for actuating the switch-bar.

10. In combination with a support, asta- IOO IOS i IIO lever, and angularly-disposed surfaces upon opposite sides of the sWitoh-lever arranged IO' to engage and move the reciprocating switchbar.

WALTER A. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

E. P. COFFRIN, ARTHUR B. JENKINS. 

